fitness tracker chore dump

We started a family step count game. The idea is simple: whoever wins the daily step count gets bragging rights. We keep a running tally of weekly victories. The weekly winner gets to assign the weekly loser a chore of their choice.

I kitted each of us out with a Xiaomi Mi Fit 2. At about $20 apiece it is a very reasonable piece of hardware. In addition to counting steps the Mi Fit purports to measure the quality of your sleep and take your pulse rate. Supporting apps run on android and iPhone but are frankly a little shaky.

The thing that Xiaomi gets right is that the battery charge lasts upwards of a month. That is very generous compared to almost all other tech out there. An unexpected bonus is the caller ID readout for incoming calls. Plus I find the calendaring feature very useful for repeated tasks like picking up my daughter.

But what about the game? Fast forward a few months and I am the biggest loser. Luckily I lose to my daughter who retains a real advantage due to her short legs. Also recess. Just as well considering the horror of the nature of the chores my wife has assigned me.

As an experiment in gamification/family-hacking it has been a modest success. It has certainly raised awareness (ahem) of our individual habits and has been a spur toward better behavior, well at least amongst my betters.